Gender Responsive Language Use and Students’ Participation in Learning in Tanzanian Secondary Schools

The study investigated teachers’ level of knowledge on gender responsive language and how they apply in teaching and learning process to enhance equitable participation in learning. The study was conducted in Monduli district and Mbulu town council from Tanzania mainland. The study adopted a mixed methods research approach following concurrent embedded design. Eight schools were selected from which 146 teachers and 220 students were sampled to participate in the study. Data were collected through questionnaire, interviews and classroom observations. Then, thematic content analysis technique was used for qualitative data while descriptive analysis was conducted for quantitative data. The findings show that secondary school teachers had limited knowledge on gender responsive language which constrained their ability to use gender responsive language in classroom. Teachers were observed to use gender neutral language and sometime they used phrases which perpetuate superiority and inferiority between boys and girls respectively. The study recommends for extra efforts to raise teachers’ knowledge on gender responsive language so that none of the student would be denied learning chances because of the gender irresponsive language. Keywords: gender sensitive language, gender inequality, students’ participation in learning DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-26-04 Publication date:September 30th 202

Postoperative nausea and vomiting at a tertiary care hospital in north-western Tanzania

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting is one of the most distressing morbidities associated with surgery. This descriptive prospective study was conducted to determine the incidence, predictors and management of postoperative nausea and vomiting among patients attending a tertiary hospital in north-western Tanzania.Methods: The study was conducted in the surgical wards and intensive care unit of Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza, Tanzania between January 2013 and December 2013. The study population included adult patients aged ≥18 years, classified as ASA I and who were scheduled for elective surgeries under general or region anaesthesia. Patients were assessed preoperatively, intraoperatively and postoperatively.  A questionnaire was administered to each patient in order to collect the information on demographic characteristics, estimated patient’s body mass index, smoking  status, prior history of motion sickness or post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV), type and duration of surgery/anaesthesia, intraoperative pethidine use, postoperative pain and timing of oral intake.Results: A total of 348 patients (age=18-76 years) were included in the study. The male to female ratio was 1.4: 1. The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was 41.4%. Age group 21-30, female gender, history of PONV, general anaesthesia and intraoperative pethidine were the main predictors of PONV (p < 0.001). Only forty-five (31.3%) out of the 144 patients who reported their episodes of PONV received any medications.Conclusion: The incidence of PONV among surgical patients at Bugando Medical Centre is unacceptably high and the predictors of postoperative nausea and vomiting within 24 hours included being a young adult, female, having history of PONV, been under general anaesthesia and intraoperative pethidine. It is recommended that patients with increased likelihood of developing postoperative nausea and vomiting should be given anti-emetic prophylaxis and other preventive measures